This business provides otherwise expensive baby equipment to parents for a modest rental fee. A quality baby carrier, for example, can be rented for eight dollars a day. Babies require a lot of stuff, but only for a short period of time. Renting the equipment can save parents money.

Another positive element of baby rental gear is the contribution to the environment.

Walsh said, “If I could stop somebody else from buying something, and they could just rent it, that would be great.”

She also uses green cleaners on the equipment, which—in addition to helping the environment—keeps the products safe for children.

Additionally, Walsh hopes visitors to Revelstoke will catch on to the service she offers. This would save them the hassle and cost of transporting large equipment while travelling.

Walsh researched the business very thoroughly, and realized there were similar services in many different communities—a positive option for tourists with children.

Since opening, response to Stoked Baby Rentals has been great. Walsh said that the best part of running a small business in Revelstoke has been, “the friends, people that live here and the business community. In general they’re just incredibly supportive.”

Find out more by visiting the company website.

Dallas News: Gaglardi acts like a kid who just bought the candy store when he talks about owning the Dallas Stars. A $267 million candy store. "I think I’m going to have so much fun with that franchise for the rest of my life.  I’ve made it very clear that I don’t plan to make my living owning the Dallas Stars. But I know very well that if we make the right decisions on and off the ice and run our business properly, it’ll work out just fine. Even with the surge in attendance (+31%), the Stars are expected to lose $30 million this season after losing $91.5 million in the previous three."

Revelstoke Times Review: (Gaglardi) is the owner of Revelstoke Mountain Resort, having acquired it in late 2008 when they transitioned from minority lender to the project to the management group. We are spending over $300 million dollars, and half that on the real estate product, and 63 per cent of it’s unsold. We haven’t slashed prices; we haven’t done anything to hurt the market value…I don’t know anybody else who’d have the staying power and that type of ability to say, “We’re in it for the long run.” I think that RMR I wouldn’t call a core holding for us, because we’re not in that business particularly.  I think out of necessity, you have to take a long-term view of it.  Galgardi underscores the financial commitment Northland has made to the city and the resort….$300 million in investment to date and a $17.5 million staff payroll last year alone.

Dallas News: As president of Northland Properties, Gaglardi runs a family-owned company with more than $2.5 billion in assets. Northland owns four restaurant chains (Moxie’s, Rockford, The Chop Steakhouse and Shark Club), has 49 Denny’s franchise units, and it the largest family-owned hotel company in Canada with 8,000 rooms (Sandman, Sandman Signature and most recently Sutton Place Hotels).

Revelstoke Times Review: We’ve got to figure out how to get a Dash 8 in and out of there everyday (Revelstoke).   The highway, it killed us last year with closures—163 over 60 days.  It’s absolutely brutal. I don’t think the resort would be there (without Northland’s significant investment)—I know it wouldn’t be there. The lift company would have come and claimed its lifts, taken them away and we’d be sitting on nothing. There is no promise of summer operations (aka a new golf course); instead the focus is on consolidation of the winter product and long-term planning—with fingers crossed for a real estate turnaround.

Dallas News: So far Gaglardi is in love with Dallas—and not just from an investment side. He says he can’t believe the warm reception he’s received. Beautiful place, wonderful people.

Revelstoke Times Review: "I’ve got to tell you. With what we’ve done for that community (Revelstoke) to have the frustrations of dealing with the city and the demands they’ve put on us.  It is really, frankly disheartening.  It’s one of the biggest challenges we have."
 

She’s had tough assignments in the past so stepping into this important leadership post should be a challenge well within her capabilities.

“My experience is managing people, sales and marketing,” she told the Revelstoke Current. “Being an advocate and building positive relationships will be a major part of my role.”

A native of Sundre, Alberta, she opened up the Eastern Canadian market for West Jet and headed the airline’s corporate sales team there.

She and her husband, Jamie, had been going to Beaton for their holidays over the last 15 years and began building a cottage there four years ago. That wasn’t enough, apparently, and so they decided to purchase a home in Revelstoke and live here full time. Moving here after years of living in Calgary and Toronto as not a great a challenge as one might expect.

“Growing up we went to Mara Lake,” she said in an interview. “So I was familiar with the area.”

Goodman joins the chamber at a critical time. It is facing a number of different issues, including what to do about the long-discussed visitor information centre, high business taxes, the perennial out-of-town shopping issue and more.

The chamber has been drifting a bit since Adelheid Bender left late last year. Bender had been brought in this past fall to temporarily stabilize things after the departure of John Devitt in August. However, she left abruptly in January.

Goodman has a learning curve ahead of her. She’ll spend the next while learning about local issues, meeting all the local players in business and politics and carving out a place for herself.  Mutual acquaintances told me she is an intelligent, organized and knowledgeable woman. Those descriptors certainly seem to fit.

Besides outdoor activities—“Jamie’s an avid sledder and skier,” Judy said of her husband—both Goodmans enjoy painting and the arts and plan on contributing to, and enjoying, Revelstoke’s cultural scene.

Judy Goodman started her new job as executive director of the Revelstoke Chamber of Commere on April 16.

Most major ski resorts have some kind of child care available on the mountain. At Revelstoke Mountain Resort, a new daycare is open spring, summer and fall, as well as during the winter ski season, to meet the occasional daycare needs of residents and visitors alike. Tara Benson is the proud owner/manager of Mountain Child Care, and she was pleased to answer some questions from Kootenay Business. (Bonus: she gets to take her own kids to work!)

What inspired you to get into the child-care business?

My inspiration for stepping into the child-care business came from the great opportunity to combine my administrative and tourism experience with my current profession of caring for my own children. The job offers me the flexibility of being able to bring my children to work—and they love it!

What gives you the most joy at work?

I receive great joy in seeing the happiness and excitement in the children's faces when they find a certain toy that they love, or make a new friend, or when relaying their favourite part of the day to their parent.

Do you have a mentor, or someone who inspires you?

Linda Chell and all of the other hard-working women at Revelstoke Child Care and Referral are very supportive and knowledgeable and inspiring in their commitment to helping all children.

What's your favourite children's story?

We have way too many children's books to choose from!

Favourite children's song?

Shake Your Sillies Out by Raffi is a fantastic song to dance to and put a smile on a child's face.

All-time best children's toys?

The most popular toys at our child care centre are the giant cardboard boxes and the pretend cakes, cookies and ice cream. My favourite is definitely Lego, for all ages.

What's special about having a daycare on the mountain?

With Mountain Child Care being located up at Revelstoke Mountain Resort, during the winter months our focus is on skiing and snowmobiling families. From April to November, we are still located close enough to town to offer on-call care and day camps catering more to the local Revelstoke families. Revelstoke Mountain Resort does offer us a fantastic energizing atmosphere in a spectacular setting where children can learn to ski or just play and sled in the snow with us.

What are your hours of operation and what ages do you cater to at Mountain Child Care?

Mountain Child Care holds an occasional child-care licence, issued through Interior Health. This type of licence differentiates us from a full-time daycare. We are limited to caring for each child a maximum of eight hours per day and a maximum of 40 hours in a calendar month. So our goal is to supplement regular child care, fill in the gaps and assist visitors to Revelstoke. Mountain Child Care is licensed to care for children ages 18 months up until the start of Grade 1.

During the winter season (December to March), Mountain Child Care offers half-day and full-day care programs with the option of adding on ski lessons for the older children. From April to November, we offer on-call child care at $6 per hour per child. This summer we are offering mini day camps, introducing fun themes and outdoor activities, from June 11th to September 7th, every Monday to Friday from 9 to 11:30 a.m.

Can you describe the philosophy of your child-care centre?

Our goal at Mountain Child Care is to ensure that each child has a happy day playing and learning in a safe and stimulating environment. We act as guides in everyday play activities, listening to, observing and joining the children. Each child is an individual and we will respect their pace, interests and abilities.

Tell us a bit about your background.

My formal training is in tourism and event planning. While I did babysit as a teen, my child-care training began with my own children seven years ago. The joy of playing with your own children and their friends and watching them learn and grow is incomparable. My business strengths lie in management, administration and organization, which I developed in various office and hotel administration positions.

What's the biggest life lesson your own kids have taught you?

I have two children, ages four and six. They have taught me many things including patience, patience, patience. My children also constantly remind me to stop and smell the roses (or dandelions!).

“I find that every town has a favourite store that customers love to browse through when visiting,” said Komaryk. “My goal is to become the must-see with the must-haves in beautiful downtown Revelstoke.”

Evolve offers its visitors an ever-changing array of home accents and unique gifts. Visit 201 Mackenzie Avenue in Revelstoke to check the shop's beautiful displays. The store is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with reduced hours on Sunday.

“Together with my wonderful staff, Jillian Casson and Mary-Jo Dembecki, we hope to give everyone the best customer service,” said Komaryk.